Terrestrial arthropods (insects and their relatives, such as spiders, scorpions, and mites) are the most successful and diverse forms of multicellular life on Earth. In this course we cover of basic principles of their biology, including their structure and function, development, ecology, behavior and reproduction. We also emphasize their diverse array of unique roles in nature, many of which are exceedingly important to the maintenance and functioning of healthy and productive ecosystems. This course serves as a primer to the basic concepts of biological science directed by our exploration of diversity and adaptations among terrestrial arthropods.

Lecture Titles and Topics

Section 1. Arthropods: An Introduction

"Intro" What's this course about and where are we going?[A biology course for English majors]

"Characters" Who are the terrestrial arthropods?[Arthropod classes; Arachnid and Insect orders]

“Parts”What are the parts? How are they put together? How can they change? [Bauplans and adaptive modifications]

“Cycles”How do arthropods grow and change? [Life cycles and metamorphosis]

“Variety”Why are there so many kinds? [A story of an adaptable basic "design," and extraordinary ecological opportunities]

“History”What came first and then what happened?[The historical evolution of the terrestrial arthropods]

“Aeronauts”How did insects get their wings? [Evolution of insect wings and flight and, some later history]

“Species”From whence do they come?[The process of speciation]

"Trees" What's with roots and branches?[The brilliant tool for understanding relationships among organisms]

“Tasks” What must a “bug” do to survive and reproduce?[An inventory of the activities required to succeed biologically]

Section 2. Arthropods and the Environment

“Home”What is it, and how do they find it? [The tasks of dispersal and habitat selection]

“Plants” Do they consent to be food? [Plants' cooperation and combat with insects]

“Wood” Why a difficult food, and how are a few insects able to use it?[A history of woody polymers and polymerases]

“Sap” Plenty of it; so what’s the problem? [The deficiencies of an abundant resource and adaptations to use it]

“Blood” Why do some arthropods say: “Ve vant to drink your blood!” ?[Nutritional value and problems obtaining and using blood for food]

“Poop”Why so highly contested?[Nutritive value and physical nature of excrement as a resource]

“Prey”Do they consent to be food? [Animals as hosts and prey: Offenses and defenses in parasitism and predation]